Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1892 — The Czar Is Weak, Not Wicked. [ARTICLE]

The Czar Is Weak, Not Wicked.

A near kinsman of the Czar, who visits Russia frequently, and who is well known for his frankness as well as fairness told me a few months ago that many of the things done by the alleged order of the Czar were repugnant to that ruler’s feelings. The prince’s conversation might be summarized in this way: “Alexander has no idea of doing wrong to anyone. His heart is full of kindness. He is happy only when surrounded by his family circle. “It is true that the foulest maladministration and persecution are going on all about him; but he, poor fellow, is incapable of seeing them. He hears only the reports of ministers, who know that he does not like to be worried. “The poor man is so burdened with fat- that he can scarcely do any work; his temperament is sluggish; he lacks intelligence; when he signs papers he has no idea that he is doing more than an exercise in penmanship. “He is physically and mentally incapable of supervising department of the government—not evep the military; and as a consequence the country is left entirely to officials, who divide up power among themselves, and do what they can to remain in office.” I only quote enough of this prince’s remarks tp. explain how it is that abuses continue in a country nominally governed by a mild, peaceloving Czar, for it opens a terrible vista of what might be were he disposed to be personally cruel. It makes one shudder to think of the day when the present czarowitz shall mount the throne.—Harper’s Magazine.